Removable weight for athletic shoe



Dec. 24, R. MQGOWAN V REMOVABLE WEIGHT FOR ATHLETIC SHOE Filed Nov. 13,1962 INVENTOR.

MAURICE R. McGOWAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oil ice dilifihi?Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3 114,982 REMLVABLE l/VFEIGiilT FUR ATHLETIC SHOEMaurice R. McGowan, ii54 Mundy Court, Dayton, Ohio Filed Nov. 13, 1962,gar. No. 237,240 6 Claims. (Cl. ss 2.s

This invention relates to shoes, and particularly to weighted athleticshoes.

Athletes in training often employ weight devices for building their legmuscles so that they are capable of running with increased speed andpower. Such devices are, however, generally limited to the gymnasium andare not suitable for use on the athletic field since the bulk involvedmakes them cumbersome and unwieldy. These weight devices are usuallysecured to the foot or leg of the wearer so that running or walking isnot permitted or is greatly impaired, and substantial time is requiredto put on or take off the weight device. Additionally, exercisingapparatus of this type is often expensive and completely separate fromthe athletic shoes worn during competition so that they cannot be wornsimultaneously. They also do not readily permit adjustment in the weightthereof as required to avoid the muscle strain which may occur when toomuch weight is used at the beginning of training.

Accordingly, an important object of this invention is to provideimproved apparatus for building the leg muscles which is free from theabove disadvantages and which is quickly attached to and removed from aconventional athletic shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparains for securing apredetermined mass to an athletic shoe in such a manner that it will notaffect movements of the wearer regardless of whether the mass isattached or removed, and particularly to provide apparatus of theaforesaid type which can be instantaneously removed from the shoe insuch a manner that the shoe loses none of its properties and is capableof unrestricted competitive use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive removableweight assembly for mounting on an athletic shoe which does notinterfere with the wearers activities during practice, and particularlyto provide a device of the aforesaid type wherein the mass can be variedto allow a gradual increase thereof as the train ing progresses so thatthe wearers leg muscles are gradually strengthened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the appended claims.

In the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional athleticshoe having the exercising weights secured thereon;

PEG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1with the weights removed;

FIG. 3 is elevation view of the rear side of the weight holding padillustrating the snap members there- FIG. 4 is a sectional view takenessentially along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the weight holdingapparatus; and

PEG. 6 is a sectional view taken essentially along the line 6-6 of FIG.5.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, FIG. 1 shows a baseball shoe it? for the rightfoot comprising a sole 11 having attached thereto the cleats 12 whichaid the wearer in obtaining traction as he maneuvers on the baseballfield. in me usual manner, the sole 11 has sewn thereon the inner orleft and the outer or right side walls 14 and 15 which are attached tocooperate with the toe and heel portions 16 and 17 for surrounding theankle of the wearer. The conventional laces 18 interconnect the holes 19provided in the sides for the purpose of securing the shoe ill to thewearers foot in the usual manner. The various components of the shoe arepreferably made of soft flexible leather although other knownequivalents can be used without departing from the scope of theinvention.

On the outer side wall 15 of the shoe is secured the weight member 20which is utilized by the player during practice for exercising andbuilding his leg muscles. This member includes an oval shaped base pad21, preferably leather, having a plurality of male and female snapmembers 23 and 24, respectively, secured thereto along the top edge 26substantially as shown in FIG. 3. The pad 21 also has an anchor snapmember 27 secured along the lower edge 28 thereof.

Three weights 34) (FIG. 4) preferably of lead or other heavy materialare secured to the base pad 21 by the cover member 31, preferably of acanvas material, which is sewed along the lines 32 to the base pad 21 tohold the weights fill against movement. These weig-.ts have suiiicientmass to give the wearer the necessary exercise, as well as a sensationthat his feet are much lighter when the weight member 29 is removed. Itis contemplated that weight mernbers having different weights will beavailable so that various age groups may utilize the invention, and sothat the amount of weight can be gradually increased from a very smallamount to a comparatively large amount.

The complementary female and male snap members 33 and 34% are secured tothe outer side wall 15 of the shoe lit in a configuration similar to thearrangement of the members 23 and on the weighted member 26, as shown inFIG. 2. the snap members 23 and 24 are in alignment with thesnaprnembers 33 and 34, respectively, so that the pad 21 can be securelyfastened to the shoe in by merely engaging these snap members. Likewise,the complementary anchor snap member 36 secured below the snap members33 and 34 engages the snap member 27 for holding the lower portion ofthe base pad 21 to the shoe it? although this connection does notsupport any substantial amount of weight since the snaps along vtheupper edge 26 of the pad 21 support the vertical Weight of the member 26The weight member 29 is thus mounted on the shoe lid between the heelreceiving portion 38 wherein the ankle pivots and the toe portion 39wherein the toes pivot with respect to the remainder of the foot so thatthe member 2% does not obstruct or interfere with the foot movementwhich occurs during running. Since the weight is on the outer side 15 ofthe shoe it does not project into the path of movement of the left footwhich has a similar weight member on the outer or left side thereof. Toremove the member it? it is merely necessary for the wearer to graspeither of the side edges ill and jerk this member from the shoe Till.The member 2% can be replaced on the shoe by aligning the various snapmembers and exerting the necessary pressure to engage these snaps. Whilethe preferred embodiments of the invention utilize the aforesaid snaptype fastening device, it is Within the scope of this invention to useother fastening means for securing the member fail to a shoe.

FIG. 5 illustrates another weight member Ztla which is generally similarto that shown in FIG. 3 and is secured to an athletic shoe by snapmembers in essentially the same manner. However, the base pad 21a hassecured thereto a semi-rigid housing member 5, for example made of aplastic material, having three compel ments as therein as shown clearlyin PEG. 6. Each of these compartments is covered by a flexible tab 47which is formed integrally with the base pad 21a and which has a femalesnap t? on one end thereof for engaging an appropriate male snap, notshown, on the housing member 45.

Into each of the compartments 46 is inserted a plurality of elongatedweight slabs 50 which completely fill the space therein so that theslabs are held against movement. The total mass in these compartmentscan be varied by merely lifting the cover tabs 4-5 and removing some ofthe slabs 5t and inserting wood fillers or the like to prevent relativemovement of the remaining slabs. Thus only one set of the weight slabsis required by any one user, and he can initially use a relatively smallmass therein and gradually increase the same as the leg muscles becomestronger.

It is also within the scope of this invention to use weight materialsthat have ditferent densities so that a wider range of masses areavailable for use with the invention. For example, slabs of aluminumcould initially be used for creating a comparatively light weight membera whereas slabs of lead can be utilized for obtaining a relatively heavyweighted member. It is further contemplated that the embodiment shown inFIGS. I-4 can be modified without departing from the scope of theinvention to include the tabs 47 for permitting removal and replacementof the weights 30.

While the invention has been shown and described in connection with abaseball shoe, it is equally applicable to low cut football andbasketball shoes, track shoes, golf shoes, and the like. Similarly, theinvention can be adapted for use with conventional high top football,basketball, and tennis shoes without departing from the scope of theinvention. It is, however, important that the weight member be afi'ixedto the outer side of the shoe so that it will not obstruct running ofthe wearer, and likewise this member must be located in the shoe betweenthe portion which contains toes thereof and the ankle to allow forunrestricted flexing of the foot.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A removable weight attachment for a low cut ankle athletic shoe orthe like having a sole with inner and outer side Walls thereon forsurrounding the ankle of the wearer comprising a base pad of flexiblematerial having a plurality of first snap members thereon along theupper edge thereof, a plurality of weight supporting matable snapmembers adapted for mounting along the top edge of the outer side of theshoe for receiving said first snap members to secure releasably saidbase pad to the outer side of the shoe, means secured to said base padfor defining at least one enclosed pocket, and weights of predeterminedmass in said pockets for adding to the weight of the shoe when said snapmembers secure said base pad to the shoe.

2. A removable weight attachment for an athletic shoe having a sole withinner and outer side walls thereon for surrounding the ankle of thewearer comprising a base pad of flexible material having a plurality offirst snap members on one side thereof, a plurality of Weight supportingcomplementary snap members adapted for mounting along the top edge ofthe outer side of the shoe for receiving said first snap members tosecure releasably said base pad to the outer side of the shoe, fasteningmeans for securing the lower edge of said base pad to the shoe, andflexible means secured to the other side of said base pad definingenclosed pockets for receiving weights of predetermined mass to increasethe weight of the shoe to build the leg muscles of the wearer when saidsnap members secure said base pad to the shoe.

3. A removable weight attachment for an athletic shoe or the like havinga sole with inner and outer side walls thereon for surrounding the ankleof the wearer con prising a base pad of flexible material having aplurality of first snap members thereon along the upper edge thereof, aplurality of weight supporting matable snap members adapted for mountingalong the top edge of the outer side of the shoe forward of the ankleand rearward of the toes when the shoe is being worn for receiving saidfirst snap members to secure releasably said base pad to the outer sideof the shoe, and means secured to said base pad and defining enclosedpockets for receiving weights of predetermined mass to increase theweight of the shoe when said snap members are engaged.

4. A removable weight attachment for an athletic shoe or the like havinga sole with inner and outer vertical side walls thereon for surroundingthe ankle of the wearer comprising a base pad of flexible materialhaving upper and lower edge portions, fastening means for releasablysecuring at least said upper and lower edge portions of said pad on oneof the side walls of the shoe forward of the ankle and rearward of thetoes when the shoe is being worn, means on the other side of said basepad and defining enclosed pockets, and weights of predetermined mass insaid pockets for adding to the weight of the shoe when said fasteningmeans secures said pad to said shoe to aid in building the leg muscle ofthe wearer of the shoe.

5. A removable weight attachment for an athletic shoe having a sole withinner and outer side walls thereon for surrounding the ankle of thewearer comprising a base pad of flexible material having a plurality offirst snap members thereon along the upper edge thereof, a plurality ofweight supporting second matable snap members adapted for mounting alongthe top edge of the outer side of the shoe for receiving said first snapmembers to secure releasably said base pad to said side of the shoe,means secured to said base pad and defining at least one enclosurehaving an open top for receiving Weights of predetermined mass toincrease the weight of the shoe when said snap members are engaged, andcover members associated with each of said enclosures for closing saidopen tops to hold releasably said weights therein.

6. A removable weight attachment for an athletic shoe having a sole withinner and outer side walls thereon for surrounding the ankle of thewearer comprising a base pad of flexible material having a plurality offirst snap members thereon along the upper edge thereof, a plurality ofweight supporting second matable snap members along the top edge of theouter side of the shoe forward of the wearers ankle and rearward of thetoes when the shoe is worn for receiving said first snap members tosecure releasably said base pad to said side of the shoe, means securedto said base pad and defining at least one enclosure having an open topfor receiving weights of predetermined mass for adding to the weight ofthe shoe when said snap members are engaged, and cover members for eachof said enclosures for closing said open tops to hold releasably saidweights therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A REMOVABLE WEIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR A LOW CUT ANKLE ATHLETIC SHOE ORTHE LIKE HAVING A SOLE WITH INNER AND OUTER SIDE WALLS THEREON FORSURROUNDING THE ANKLE OF THE WEARER COMPRISING A BASE PAD OF FLEXIBLEMATERIAL HAVING A PLURALITY OF FIRST SNAP MEMBERS THEREON ALONG THEUPPER EDGE THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF WEIGHT SUPPORTING MATABLE SNAPMEMBERS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ALONG THE TOP EDGE OF THE OUTER SIDE OF THESHOE FOR RECEIVING SAID FIRST SNAP MEMBERS TO SECURE RELEASABLY SAIDBASE PAD TO THE OUTER SIDE OF THE SHOE, MEANS SECURED TO SAID BASE PADFOR DEFINING AT LEAST ONE ENCLOSED POCKET, AND WEIGHTS OF PREDETERMINEDMASS IN SAID POCKETS FOR ADDING TO THE WEIGHT OF THE SHOE WHEN SAID SNAPMEMBERS SECURE SAID BASE PAD TO THE SHOE.